Franklin Eucker - Private First Class

Hometown:
Orange
D.O.B.:
October 24, 1945
County:
Essex
Rank:
Private First Class
Branch:
Marines
Date of Casualty:

July 24, 1966

Casualty Status:
Killed In Action
Country of Incident:
South Vietnam

Franklin C. Eucker was born on October 24, 1945. His home of record is Orange, NJ. He attended Lakeside Bible Conference School and Carmel High School in Carmel, NY. After his grandfather passed in 1964, Eucker moved home to Orange, graduating from Orange High School later that year.

He was interested in missionary work. Eucker was a high school athlete with several bowling championships with the Valley Lanes Bowling Club on his record.

After graduation, he went directly to the Marine Corp recruiting station. His mother remembered the day, “He and five other boys went to the recruiting station in Orange and asked to enlist. He brought a sergreant back to the house with him to get my approval and it was a complete surprise to me. But I said, son, you do what you think is right for you.”

He entered the US Marine Corps and attained the rank of Private First Class (PFC).

Eucker was killed in action on July 24, 1966 during Operation Hastings just south of the Vietnam border.

He was survived his mother Dorothy Williams-Smith, brother Samuel, sister Shirley and stepbrother William Williams Jr.

He is buried at Rosedale Cemetery in Orange, NJ.

Source: NJVVMF, VVMF, Newark Evening News.
12/17/2024

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